Knee surgery is a pain. There. I said it. But during my time in recovery I’ve had oodles of time to reflect on the things that really matter in life, the things I am most thankful for. What are the three things you’re thankful for?
With the financial markets in turmoil, elections is full swing, and the economy in the crapper, now is as good a time as any to count the good stuff we have going for us. It’s time to look on the bright side of life and list those things for which we are thankful. While pondering my own little list, I couldn’t help but marvel at how the things I appreciate most are fantastically frugal. Here goes!
- Friends & Family. The Beatles were right! I do get by with a little help from my friends, “better half”, and family. Love you guys!
- My Own Voice. I’ve been a professional writer for eons. But it wasn’t until I started Squawkfox that I discovered how my own “true” voice sounded. It’s easier to write in a non-personal manner using newspaper language and generic media-isms. But to write using my own thoughts and words is very humbling and brings a sense of immeasurable appreciation. I am also thankful to you, gentle reader, for listening.
- Walking. Bipedal locomotion seems so simple, but it’s not. After spending several years walking in pain I am thankful to have a healthy right knee again. I walked yesterday for the first time in recent memory without pain. The sun was shining warm on my neck and shoulders. The wind blew through my hair. The moment was glorious and filled me with hope. My dog was thankful for the walk too. 😀
Since writing this post I’ll add three more things I’m thankful for.
- Surviving depression. It’s a hard battle but I’m feeling mentally strong these days.
- Adopting my daughter, Chloe. The kid is magic.
- Giving keynotes and being a public speaker. It’s fun sharing big ideas on personal finance and I love meeting people.
What are you thankful for? What 3 things bring you the most happiness and joy? Go ahead, share your thankful thoughts in the comments below.
Hope you’re on the mend. Being immobile really sucks, eh? I’ll play.
A nice cup of tea. The best part of my day. Well, the best four or five parts of my day. Nothing feels better, more secure, or more comfy than a BIG cup of milky tea. I am drinking one right now.
Toronto public library, from whence I have just come. I’ve read better in the last couple of years than possibly in my whole life but I’ve only bought one book recently.
L, of course; I can’t drink tea in bed, so he keeps me warm at night.
I’m thankful for:
1. Friends – even though I no longer live so close to them they are still there for me.
2. Husband/children – The love I have for them is unbelievable. For someone who never wanted to get married or have children I am amazed at the amount of love I have for them.
3. Internet – I have been able to attend live services at church via the internet. I have made friends through the internet. I have learned much from blogs. I have chatted with friends via the internet. I guess maybe I should be thankful for modern technology instead of narrowing it down to the internet.
Also, lately I’ve been thankful for my health. For the past several days I have had sharp pain shooting down my leg when I walk so that has not been fun.
I’m game too…
thankful for:
1. my family. especially my 4 month old son who teaches me something new every day and particularly my husband who teaches me that what the 4 month old just taught me is cool.
2. my friends. just recently they literally put a roof over my head.
3. water. for drinking. for swimming in. for cleaning up messes. for turning into ice and making injuries better. i love water.
I am really hoping you are feeling better soon!! I have been thinking of you. When I had surgery a few months back, it was amazing how quickly I was reminded of what really matters in life and the sense of appreciation that came over me. Until I’m down and out, I don’t realize what I am taking for granted.
My list is:
1. My health. Without it, nothing else matters. When I am un-well, it’s hard to care about how my house looks, what my bank account is doing, or even care about others. Being unhealthy makes me selfish and for that, I appreciate every moment of being healthy. So I can focus on the things outside of myself that matter.
2. My family. Plain and simple, I wouldn’t be who I am without the love and support of my immediate and extended family.
3. Friends. The daily smiles and laughter and tears and support from friends is an absolute necessity for my life. I am thankful for having people who don’t have to love me but they do anyway.
I’m thankful for:
1) Peace and Quiet – it may not happen often but when it does, like right now when the five year old is taking his bath, it’s downright glorious
2) The great outdoors – I find myself marvelling at the harvest moon, a much needed breeze or even green grass (which is in short supply here in Vallejo where it’s always 20 degrees hotter than nearby San Francisco).
3) Friends and family – True friends are hard to find and harder to keep but are a blessing and I try to appreciate them as often as possible.
I didn’t realize it was that bad! I hope you feel better Squawky.
I don’t know about bringing me happiness and joy…but my job is number one today. Usually it would be way at the bottom but today I’m just happy to be able to pay the bills. Family and health are definitely high on the list too.
Lovely! Glad to hear you’re on the mend. Yay!
Three things? Oh, heavens. I could list three hundred! But I’ll follow the rules. 🙂
1. My health. I’m 30 and have had a breast cancer scare, a colonoscopy for Inflammatory Bowel Disease, a mother who suffers from schizophrenia, etc., all of which really Put Stuff Into Perspective. I thank God every day that I can walk, hear, see, smell, taste, think, love, feel, hug, move, and be.
2. My apartment. After living at home until the age of 28 with a mother who is severly mentally ill (which was beyond stressful), moving into my own place and creating it as the sanctuary it now is literally changed my life. Changed. My. Life.
3. The people in my life. My friends, my family, my boyfriend, my colleauges, the beautiful bloggers out there…they are all amazing in ways that words will never fully express. My heart feels as though it could rupture with joy from all of the love I feel for and from them. I am blessed. So very blessed.
I think this is a really great blog post! Might I “steal” your idea and try it out on my own? I try to put a daily “Gratitude” section at the end of each of my posts, but I’d love to hear what readers have to say. It’s so nice, too, to read your readers’ comments, because they’re all so beautiful.
Finally! GOOD stuff to read on the internet! 🙂
with love from Pittsburgh…
I am thankful for:
1. God
2. Family and friends
3. That we are able to meet our daily needs!
hope you are better soon!
things i am thankful for:
1) the obvious: fabulous husband
2) the occasionally tedious : marvelous career and opportunity to write a dissertation.
3) the surprising: having to come to some difficult realizations about lifestyle & finances and making an effort to turn things around.
I have just had my right thyroid removed. So I am in a similar state of mind.
I am so grateful that I am alive and reasonably healthy.
I have got access to health care.
I have a wonderful husband and children.
Hey Fox!!
The three things I’m most thankful for:
1.) The grace of God
2.) The people I love and the people who love me
3.) My health, my body, my mind. Being alive.
🙂
It sucks to be immobile!! I hope your recovery will be swift and complete Fox.
Francois
Congratulations
I had a stroke about 23 month ago and am now fully recovered. It took me about 3 month to be able to walk to the corner and back. No I walk everyday at least 3 miles…….Amazing, isn’t it, how we get such simple pleasure from routine things that are temporarily taken from us.
Good luck!
I am most thankful for:
~My family.
~My friends.
~Being gainfully employed, healthy and able to support myself.
~Being that I’m still fairly young, I have a pretty good chance of reaching many of my personal and professional goals.
I’m thankful for my wife, kids, and friends. Keep your spirits high and continue writing. It will help through your recovery process.
as far as i know, people like family and friends cannot
be considered as THINGS.
as we all know THINGS do not have life but PEOPLE do.
will you be happy if you, yourself be considered as a “THING”?
I love my parents.(L)
The wonderful past
The opportunistic present
The hopeful future
[…] thumbnail image source Share Everything Else Gratitude, thanksgiving Namaste […]
hese past few years that has gotten pretty tough for many of us here in Michigan. We have to count our blessings just to stay sane sometimes. With all that in mind, I have to say that I am thankful for so many things; my wife, my daughter, and everyone else that has come and gone in my life. More importantly than any other one thing, I am thankful for the challenges in my life. It is life’s challenges that keep me growing, and life’s challenges that keep life interesting. Adversity is just a chance to go mountain climbing, and we together will get to the top with enough practice, over time.
So this year, with all the problems in the world, we can all still be thankful.